1 Thessalonians 5:1
BUT CONCERNING THE TIMES AND THE SEASONS (περ δε των χρονων κα των καιρων). See both words used also in Titus 1:2. Χρονος is rather an extended period and καιρος a definite space of time.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT CONCERNING THE TIMES AND THE SEASONS (περ δε των χρονων κα των καιρων). See both words used also in Titus 1:2. Χρονος is rather an extended period and καιρος a definite space of time.... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW PERFECTLY (ακριβως οιδατε). Accurately know, not "the times and the seasons," but their own ignorance.AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT (ως κλεπτης εν νυκτ). As a thief at night, suddenly and unexpectedly. Reminiscence of the word of Jesus (Matthew 24:43; Luke 12:39), used also in 2 Peter 3:10; Reve... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY ARE SAYING (οταν λεγωσιν). Present active subjunctive picturing these false prophets ofPEACE AND SAFETY like Ezekiel 13:10 (Peace, and there is no peace). Ασφαλεια only in N.T. in Luke 1:4 (which see); Acts 5:23 and here.SUDDEN DESTRUCTION (αιφνιδιος ολεθρος). Ολεθρος old word from... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A THIEF (ως κλεπτης). As in verse 1 Thessalonians 5:2, but A B Bohairic have κλεπτας (thieves), turning the metaphor round.... [ Continue Reading ]
SONS OF LIGHT (υιο φωτος),SONS OF DAY (υιο ημερας). Chiefly a translation Hebraism (Deissmann, _Bible Studies_, pp. 161ff.). Cf. words of Jesus in Luke 16:8 and Paul in Ephesians 5:9. He repeats the same idea in turning from "ye" to "we" and using νυκτος (night) and σκοτους (darkness), predicat... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEN (αρα ουν). Two inferential particles, accordingly therefore, as in 2 Thessalonians 2:15 and only in Paul in N.T.LET US NOT SLEEP (μη καθευδωμεν). Present active subjunctive (volitive), let us not go on sleeping.LET US WATCH (γρηγορωμεν). Present active subj. (volitive) again, let us k... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT BE DRUNKEN ARE DRUNKEN IN THE NIGHT (ο μεθυσκομενο νυκτος μεθυουσιν). No need of "be" here, they that are drunken. No real difference in meaning between μεθυσκω and μεθυω, to be drunk, except that μεθυσκω (inceptive verb in -σκω) means to get drunk.NIGHT (νυκτος, genitive by night) is... [ Continue Reading ]
PUTTING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF FAITH AND LOVE (ενδυσαμενο θωρακα πιστεως κα αγαπης). First aorist (ingressive) middle participle of ενδυω. The same figure of breastplate in Ephesians 6:14, only there "of righteousness." The idea of watchfulness brings the figure of a sentry on guard and armed to P... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT UNTO THE OBTAINING OF SALVATION THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (αλλα εις περιποιησιν σωτηριας δια του Κυριου ημων Ιησου Χριστου). The difficult word here is περιποιησιν which may be passive, God's possession as in 1 Peter 2:9, or active, obtaining, as in 2 Thessalonians 2:14. The latter is pro... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR US (περ ημων).AROUND US . So Westcott and Hort, but υπερ (over, in behalf of) as in many MSS. These prepositions often interchanged in N.T. MSS.WHETHER WE WAKE OR SLEEP (ειτε γρηγορωμεν ειτε καθευδωμεν). Alternative condition of third class with present subjunctive, though εαντε--εαντε mo... [ Continue Reading ]
BUILD EACH OTHER UP (οικοδομειτε εις τον ενα). Literally, build ye, one the one (εις nominative in partitive apposition with unexpressed υμεις subject of οικοδομειτε. Then τον ενα the accusative in partitive apposition with the unexpressed εαυτους or αλληλους. See the same idiom in 1 Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]
THEM THAT LABOUR AMONG YOU (τους κοπιωντας εν υμιν). Old word for toil even if weary.AND ARE OVER YOU IN THE LORD (κα προισταμενους υμων εν Κυριω). Same article with this participle. Literally, those who stand in front of you, your leaders in the Lord, the presbyters or bishops and deacons. Get... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TO ESTEEM THEM (κα ηγεισθα). Get acquainted with them and esteem the leaders. The idlers in Thessalonica had evidently refused to follow their leaders in church activities. We need wise leadership today, but still more wise following. An army of captains and colonels never won a battle.... [ Continue Reading ]
ADMONISH THE DISORDERLY (νουθετειτε τους ατακτους). Put sense into the unruly mob who break ranks (α privative and τακτος, verbal adjective of τασσω, to keep military order). Recall the idlers from the market-place used against Paul (Acts 17:5). This is a challenging task for any leader.ENCOURAGE... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE TO IT THAT NO ONE RENDER UNTO ANY ONE EVIL FOR EVIL (ορατε μη τις κακον αντ κακου αποδω). Note μη with the aorist subjunctive (negative purpose) αποδω from αποδιδωμ, to give back. Retaliation, condemned by Jesus (Matthew 5:38-42) and by Paul in Romans 12:17, usually takes the form of "evil fo... [ Continue Reading ]
IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS (εν παντ ευχαριστειτε). There is a silver lining to every cloud. God is with us whatever befalls us. It is God's will that we find joy in prayer in Christ Jesus in every condition of life.... [ Continue Reading ]
QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT (το πνευμα μη σβεννυτε). Μη with the present imperative means to stop doing it or not to have the habit of doing it. It is a bold figure. Some of them were trying to put out the fire of the Holy Spirit, probably the special gifts of the Holy Spirit as verse 1 Thessalonians 5:... [ Continue Reading ]
DESPISE NOT PROPHESYINGS (προφητειας μη εξουθενειτε). Same construction, stop counting as nothing (εξουθενεω, ουθεν=ουδεν), late form in LXX. Plutarch has εξουδενιζω. Plural form προφητειας (accusative). Word meansFORTH-TELLING (προ-φημ) rather thanFORE-TELLING and is the chief of the spiritu... [ Continue Reading ]
PROVE ALL THINGS (παντα [δε] δοκιμαζετε). Probably δε (but) is genuine. Even the gift of prophecy has to be tested (1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 14:29) to avoid error. Paul shows fine balance here.HOLD FAST THAT WHICH IS GOOD (το καλον κατεχετε). Keep on holding down the beautiful (noble,... [ Continue Reading ]
ABSTAIN FROM EVERY FORM OF EVIL (απο παντος ειδους πονηρου απεχεσθε). Present middle (direct) imperative of απ-εχω (contrast with κατ-εχω) and preposition απο repeated with ablative as in 1 Thessalonians 4:3. Note use of πονηρου here for evil without the article, common enough idiom. Ειδος (from ε... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOD OF PEACE (ο θεος της ειρηνης). The God characterized by peace in his nature, who gladly bestows it also. Common phrase (Milligan) at close of Paul's Epistles (2 Corinthians 13:11; Romans 15:33; Romans 16:20; Philippians 4:9) andTHE LORD OF PEACE in 2 Thessalonians 3:6.SANCTIFY YOU (αγι... [ Continue Reading ]
FAITHFUL (πιστος). God, he means, who calls and will carry through (Philippians 1:6).... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAY FOR US (προσευχεσθε [και] περ ημων). He has made his prayer for them. He adds this "human touch" (Frame) and pleads for the prayers of his converts (2 Thessalonians 3:1; Colossians 4:2). Probably κα also is genuine (B D).... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH A HOLY KISS (εν φιληματ αγιω). With a kiss that is holy (Milligan) a token of friendship and brotherly love (1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; Romans 16:16). In 1 Peter 5:14 it is "with a kiss of love." This was the customary salutation for rabbis.... [ Continue Reading ]
I ADJURE YOU BY THE LORD (ενορκιζω υμας τον Κυριον). Late compound for old ορκιζω (Mark 5:7), to put one on oath, with two accusatives (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 483f.). Occurs in inscriptions.THAT THIS EPISTLE BE READ UNTO ALL THE BRETHREN (αναγνωσθηνα την επιστολην πασιν τοις αδελφοις). First... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GRACE (η χαρις). Paul prefers this noble word to the customary ερρωσθε (Farewell, Be strong). See 2 Thessalonians 3:18 for identical close save added παντων (all). A bit shorter form in 1 Corinthians 16:23; Romans 16:20 and still shorter in Colossians 4:18; 1 Timothy 6:21; Titus 3:15; 2 Timoth... [ Continue Reading ]